Polyurethane Radiator Support Mounts (Cab Also)

Done that. It helped a little. I greased the insides well and reassembled and torqued them a few years ago. When I first started getting the noise I replaced the 5100 shocks to 6112's and the noise went away. Now the same noise is back and the shocks look fine after a few years. The lower mount bushings are a little offset but not too bad. its just an annoyance that I've kind of accepted. I did get a set of the poly Rad support bushings but havent got around to replacing them.

 

I would not expect the radiator support to fix that, but I've been surprised by things before. If it's been a few years, maybe check them again. Also, check to make sure the UCA and/or sway bar (if still in place) is not making contact with the springs.

 

For the radiator support bushing replacement, I watched a youtube video and the guy just used a crowbar and leverage to lift the cab up when replacing the bushings. But sounds like some people use a jack and a piece of wood to jack up the cab. Any preference on which method to use? The crowbar sounds easier but maybe more dangerous if it slips and your fingers are in between the mount and cab?

 

I tried the jack method and it seemed really sketchy. I ultimately used the pry bar and it was easy. Just be careful when you have your digets in dangerous places.

 

I used a jack and piece of wood and had no issues .


Obviously, don't overdo it regardless of which method you use. Just enough to get the bushing out.

 

Yep. Same. I remember when people were skeptical of this and here we are now. Lol.

I definitely did. Solved it immediately, as I could confirm the noise while the truck was at a standstill and I would manually load the truck myself at the time.

This.

 

Just wanted to jump in here real quick, I was hoping to knock out the radiator mount bushings tonight real quick before a offroad/camping trip to Joshua tree this weekend.

Do I just need one jack to do the install? I assume the step by step process would be to take off the lower nuts, jack up the radiator support, pull out the old bushings, put in the new, then drop the radiator support and tighten it all back up?

I don't really have a fully flat surface to work on since my driveway is jacked up asphalt on a hill and the truck doesn't fit in the garage, but I can get the front end in far enough to put the jack on a flat surface. Could anyone show exactly where they jacked up from as well? Just wanna make sure I do this right, safely, without damaging anything.

 

I use two jacks just to lift the front end evenly, one per side.

Grab you some 2x4s or 4x4s to brace from the jack up to the sheet metal of the core support, close to the bushings, if youre using a floor jack. Or crib under if using a bottle jack

 

Got it, thanks from a fellow Zac(k)! I have a small floor jack and the bottle jack, so those should work. Hope to have some good news to report to you guys tomorrow haha

 

To anyone using the 8.4109 bushings for the radiator support. In the first post, it says they provide less surface area than the 9. kit. But how about compared to oem? Anyone have them in hand to compare the 8.4's to the stock bushing width?

 

I just checked and dont have any pics of them side by side unfortunately. But the advantage of the 8.4's is the conical or cup shape that fits down into the cup of the frame mount. The 9.4's are hockey puck shaped without the cone and actually sit up on top of that cup thing because they are too wide. That caused noise issues on my truck.

 

Thanks! That’s good info to know too.
I think I’m going to just go with the 8.4 kit. I’m getting a hollow thud or knock. Not sure if it’s related but worth trying for only $90.

 

Installed the radiator support bushings this afternoon. 15 minutes for the passenger side, 30 for the driver's side. Used a crow bar to pry it apart and remove/install the bushings.
The oem ones weren't that bad imo. Truck has 156k on it. Haven't driven it around yet, but hoping it helps solve that knocking sound I had.
At some point I'll swap the passenger side washers. I didn't realize they send two different sizes for these. I just grabbed them out of the box as I was going. So right now the smaller one is on top and larger on the bottom on the passenger side and larger on top and smaller on bottom for driver side. Maybe it's a good experiment lol

 

Interesting you did one side different than the other. Can you see any difference in the gaps of the bumper or fender etc. What kind of noise were you getting and any improvement?

 

Well, it wasn't intentional

No difference in height. The washers are the same thickness. Only the diameter is different. You can see it in the pictures if you look at the washers on the top. One barely meets the edge of the upper bushing, the other hangs slightly over it.

As for fender gaps, it's either the same or barely larger than before. I used the 8.4 kit so I installed the bushings as recommended. I dont notice a difference in body panel gaps.

I was (am?) getting a hollow/deep knocking noise, mostly when going around turns. Almost sounds like it'd be from a ball joint or axle. But everything is recently replaced. I haven't driven the truck to see if the bushings stopped the knocking. It's not always easy to replicate. I've heard that it's a possibility so keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm going to change out the wheel bearings either thursday or friday. I have some other concerning noises that I'm trying to get rid of at the same time. So hopefully I can drive it around this weekend and report back.

 

Couldn’t do it with pry bar, had to redneck that shit n slide it from the top since I had the grill off. Then used the pry bar to center washer

 

I just installed these on my truck today, my OEM bushings were shot (fell apart after removal.) However, I got feedback that these bushings can possibly be too stiff for our trucks and can cause the core support to crack.

Any feedback on that?

 

Yes

 

Try not to add too much additional weight (like a dual battery) and you'll likely be fine.

 

What up fellas. So just threw these in on Saturday. Praise Jesus my squeaky metal on metal noise was gone. My front bushings were so worn that the metal sleeves were rubbing on the frame/support. Past few days no squeak.

Drove to work this morning, it’s back. Mother f. Didn’t have time to investigate before heading in to work, but instantly crushed my morning vibe. Any speculations or thoughts?